Brake beam fulcrum



N. FLEscH BRAKE BEAM FULCRUM Filed May 9, 1947 Aug. 1, 195o INVENTOR BY NORMAN FLESCH ATTOR EY Patented Aug. 1, 1950 BRAKE BEAM FULCRUM Norman` Flesch, Chicago, Il1. assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 9, 1947, Serial No. 747,055

8 Claims.

This invention relates to railway brake beams and more particularly to a novel form of double jaw, or fulcrum member for connecting the beam to associated actuating means and balance means.

An object of the invention is to devise a double ,l

ing stresses on the connecting rivets and loosening the connection.

It is the specic object of this invention to obviate these diiiiculties by providing a one-piece double jaw of simple, rugged construction, the double jaw being formed and arranged so that it may be sleeved over the enlarged cylindrical trunnion end of the beam and snugly iitted ontothe dat portion of the beam and securely fastened thereto. i

A still further object of the invention is to devise a one-piece double jaw of such form that it may be readily applied to brake beams now in use. These and other objects ofthe invention will become apparent from the description and the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view oi a bra-ke beam showing the manner in which the `novel double jaw is applied thereto, the jaw being illustrated at its assembled position in solid` lines and at its preassembled position in phantom lines.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken` on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. i

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention is illustrated as applied to a brake beam of usual design, generally indicated at2 (Figurel), said beam comprising a at bar portion `Lwhich is rectangular in cross section. .A t each .end of the portion 4 is provided an enlarged end portion of a diameter greater than the thickness of said at bar portion 4 and `comprising an annular collar B from which projects a cylindrical trunnion 8 of reduced diamter with a bushing Ill fitted thereon, the trunnion aiiording a pivot for a brake head and supportinghanger` (not shown).

The trunnion is hereinillustrated as comprising several stepped-up portions. Howevenif desired, it may be of constant diameter from end to end, as will be understood by those skilled` inthe art. .LI f

The feature of the invention is the provision of (Cl. 18S-233) a one-piece double jaw or fulcrum member, generally indicated at i2. The member i2 is of skeletal construction and comprises intermediate its ends a body portionincluding spaced horizontal top and bottom webs M and It widened as at I8 and 20, respectively. Between the top and bottom webs adjacent one `of the ends thereof extends a transverse web 22 joining said top and bottom webs and defining therewith a horizontal slot 24 dimensioned to snugly admit said at rectangular portion 4 of the brake beam therein in the assembled position of the brake beam and double jaw member as may be seen in Figure `2 and as hereinafter described.

The top and bottom webs at the ends remote from said transverse Web 22 are arcuately formed as at 26 and 28, respectively. These ends of said webs are joined by spaced upstanding lugs 30, 30 which are transversely arcuately recessed at their rear and form with said top and bottom webs a substantially circular opening 32 extending trans- Versely through said member, the opening being of a diameter greater than said collar E. The opening 32 communicates with said slot 24 accommodates sleeving of the fulcrum member over the collar 6 onto the flat portionof the beam, as hereinafter described. The lugs 36, 3U form a jaw and are provided with aligned bushed openings 34, 34 affording a pivotal connection `fora balance hanger (not shown). The juncture `between the lugs 3U, 30 and said top and bottom webs is reinforced and stiiiened by a plurality of vertical arcuate ribs 36, 36. l

On the other ends of the `webs I4 and Iii is formed another jaw comprising spaced vertical ears or lugs 40, 40, said lugs merging at their inner ends into said top and bottom and transverse webs. The lugs 40, 4U are provided with aligned hushed openings 42, .42 affording a pivotal connection for a brake lever ,of associated brake rigging (not shown) To assemble the double jaw member with the brake beam, the doublejaw is positionedin a manner as shown in Figure l in phantom lines wherein the opening 32.1`s axially aligned with the trunnion. The double jaw member is then. moved axially onto the trunnion and over the-collar, the opening `32, as hereinbefore mentioned, being ot larger diameter than the collar and accommodating such movement. After the double jaw member is passed over the collar, `the flat portion` 4 of the `beam is entered into the slot 24 by moving the double jaw member transversely of the beam until thedlat portion of the Vbeam is` completely entered into slot 24, at which time the widened portions i8 and 2D of said top and botton webs snugly embrace said portion 4 of the beam and one side of the portion 4 abuts as at 4t (Figure 2) against said transverse web 22 of the double jaw. To complete the assembly, the double jaw is removably secured to the brake beam as by rivets 48, i8 passing through aligned openings in the portion d and said widened portions of the top and bottom webs of the fulcrum member.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by Way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the Vspirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a brake beam comprising a flat bar portion and a cylindrical end portion of a. diameter greater than the thickness of said bar portion, a double jaw member having a jaw at each end adapted. for connection to associated brake rigging elements and comprising intermediate said jaws a body portion having a slot snugly receiving said nat bar portion therein, a substantially circular opening extending transversely through said body portion at one end of said slot, said opening being larger than the diameter of said end portion and adapted to ac commodate sleeving of said double jaw member onto and o said dat bar portion over said end portion by accommodating passage of the same therethrough in the assembly and the disassembly of said member with respect to said beam, and means removably securing said double jaw member to said bar portion of said beam.

` 2. In combination, a brake beam comprising a iiat portion of rectangular cross section and a cylindrical portion at the end of said flat portion of a diameter greater than the thickness lof said flat portion, a vdouble jaw member removably connected to said beam and comprising a transverse slot intermediate its'ends snugly receiving said yfiat portion therein and affording a mount-v ing for said member on said beam, a circular opening lthrough said member communicating with said slot and of a diameter greater than said cylindrical portion,` said opening being adapted to accommodate insertion and removal of said member onto and off said iiat portion over said cylindrical portion, a jaw at each end of' said member for connecting the same to associn ated brake elements, and means connectin'g'said member with said beam.

3. In a combination, vabrake beam double jaw member comprising spaced webs intermediate its ends, a 'transverse 'web between Asaidspaced webs interconnecting the'same and defining a slot therewith, a pair of lugs at each end of'said member connecting the adjacent ends of said spaced webs, one of the ends of said spaced webs being arcuately formed and with the associated lugs dening an openingl communicating with said slot, a brake beam vcomprising a flat bar portion and an end portion, the former being adapted to be Ysnugly received within said slot for mounting saidmember thereon and the latter being of a greater radial codimension than said at portion but smaller than said opening and adapted to pass through saidl opening to permit sleeving of said member ontoY and off `saidA flat portion in assembling and vdisassembling said member with respect to said beam. v 4, The combi/nation witha brake beam having a flat portion and a cylindrical portion at one end of said flat portion of a diameter greater than the thickness of said flat portion; of a double jaw member sleeved over said cylindrical portion onto said at portion and comprising a slot intermediate the ends thereof snugly receiving said flat portion therein, an opening extending transversely through said member adjacent` one end thereof and communicating with said slot, said opening being larger than the diameter of said end portion for accommodating assembly and disassembly of said member with said beam by permitting said member to be sleeved over said end portion onto and off said at portion.

5. In combination, a brake beam having a flat portion with a cylindrical end of a diameter greater than the thickness of said flat portion, a double jaw comprising an elongated member with av jaw at each end and having intermediate its ends a complementary slot receiving said flat portion therein, an opening at one end of said lslot 'of a diameter greater than said cylindrical portion and extending through said member axially of said beam, said opening accommodating insertion or removal of said member over said cylindrical portion in assembling and disassembling said member with said beam.

6. In combination, a brake beam comprising a Jdat b ar with a cylindrical end portion of a diam-4 eter greater than the thickness of said bar portion, arnember for connecting said beam toessociated brake rigging elements comprising an elongate body with a pair of jaws thereon, a slot and a communicating opening extending transf versely'through said body, lsaid slot vs niigly ree ceiving said flat portion therein, saidopening .being larger than the diameter Offs-11d @ed me tion and accommodating linsertion and removal Of Seid `Iiierrlber 'om and imm Said flat portie. of said beam over said cylindrical portion. o t

7. A double jawl member comprising a pair ot spaced horizontalwebs and an interconnecting vertical web defining therewith a horizontal slot, a pair of lugs at each end of said member connected tosaid webs, said horizontal Webs being arcuately formed at one end and'vvith lthe adjacent ylugs dening an opening extending transversely of said member. and communicating with said slot, said member being adapted to be sleeved onto an associated brake beam over a cylindrical endportionth'ereof and onto a iiat bar portion thereof.

8. In combination, a brake beam comprising a at portion and an enlarged nonat end por; tion, a double jaw member comprising a comple# m'entary slot'r'eceiving said flat portion therein, and means vconnecting said double jaw. member to s aid iiat portion, said member having an open,- ing communicating with said s lot and'comple'f mentary to vsaid end portion for 'reception therein during assembly rand disassembly of said `double jaw. member withsaid beam. t l

. NORMAN FLESCH. f

y REFERENCES orrED `The yfollowing references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

